USC football is making a change to head coach Lincoln Riley’s staff. One key spot is now open as the Trojans move in a new direction. When Riley was hired by USC in the fall of 2021, he brought four staff members with him from Oklahoma. One of them was Bennie Wylie, who had been Riley’s strength and conditioning coach for the previous four years at Oklahoma.
However, after a disappointing season last year, which hurt the program’s hopes for national prominence, Coach Riley made the tough decision to part ways with Wylie. The move was described as “strictly a football decision”—a clear sign that personal attachments are being set aside in favor of getting USC back into national title contention.
USC Fires Longtime Lincoln Riley Associate Bennie Wylie
USC has officially moved on from Bennie Wylie, its director of football sports performance, following a tough 2024 season. The decision came after the Trojans finished with a 7-6 record, with their final victory coming in the Las Vegas Bowl against Texas A&M.
While the team ended on a high note, head coach Lincoln Riley felt it was time for a change.
The veteran coach was deeply respected within the program. Players admired him, and many saw him as a mentor and key to their growth. Still, Riley chose to go in a new direction. According to a source, the move was “strictly a football decision,” with no drama or personal issues involved.
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In a public statement, Riley thanked Wylie for his work over the past three seasons. “We are grateful for the many contributions Coach Wylie has made to our program throughout the last three seasons. This is a difficult decision, but we are committed to positioning our football program to compete for national championships as we continue to move forward into the 2025 season and beyond.”
USC is parting ways with Director of Football Sports Performance Bennie Wylie. Wylie came with Lincoln Riley to USC from OU and they worked together back at Texas Tech where Wylie was Mike Leach’s strength coach.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) April 29, 2025
What raised some eyebrows was the timing. The performance trainer led spring workouts just weeks before the announcement. But again, the move was about football, not controversy.
Sometimes, reaching the next level means making hard choices. That’s exactly what Riley did. Whether this bold decision helps or hurts USC in the 2025 season remains to be seen.
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For now, fans can only hope it leads to something bigger. It’s a risk—but it might be one USC had to take.
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